Portable yarding and cutoff swing-saw machine



Oct. 23, 1951 A G. A. JOHNSON 2,572,347

PQRTABLE YARDING AND cUToFF SWING-SAW MACHINE Hill" ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1951 G.'A. JOHNSON PRTABLE YARDING AND cUToFF swING-sAw MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1946 OOO willi# N uw om m@ TN N N MH non mm mh VO T o o mm m. L O O m m WJ M f 5 A Iz M 5 mm mm mm m .l f L mv m 8 om v wm G w M mors ..1 o om v. mw n@ .E m vn mm X mm B @L NN .m M v d. 8 m mm NNN NW m mm om 8 n. L n m. c NN on\ n a n@ JMW N//IW .f vw f l/ fm W fw //N/l/ /W ///.W m v /f//f /.n/ m /N-l m NNW @YM Oct. 23, 1951 G. A. JOHNSON 2,572,347

PORTABLEWYARDING AND CUTOF'F SWING-SAW MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g INVENTOR. E] v GLEN A. JOHNSON :a as

ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1951 G. A. JOHNSON 2,572,347

PORTABLE YARDING AND CUTOFF SWING-SAW MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1951 G. A. JOHNSON 2,572,347

PORTABLE YARDING AND CUTOF'F SWING-SAW MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GLEN A. JOH NSON 1.1.11. Ilm

ATTORNEY lgatentec ct.

as'zasi PORTABLE YARDING AND CUTF SWING-SAW MACHINE Glen A. Johnson, Tenino, Wash.

Application May 29, 1946, Serial No. 672,963

This invention relates to portable yarding and cut oi machines and is particularly adapted to beused in the smaller logging and. sawmill loperations.

The primary object of the invention is to mount aihoisting unit upon a frame, together with a cut off saw driven by a power plant located on this said frame. This frame is mounted upon wheels so that the entire assembly can be moved about to different timber locations.

With my new and improved yarding and cut olf saw mounted upon a portable frame, which in turn is mounted upon wheels, the entire unit can be moved at a minimum of cost. 'l

'I'hese and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specifications and claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my new and improved portable yarding and cut off machine. In this view I have removed the covering or canopy for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine taken 'from the log handling side of the machine.

Figure 3 shows the opposite side of the machine illustrating the power drive mechanism.

Figure 4 is an end sectional view, particularly drawn to illustrate the cut ol mechanism, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end sectional view made to illustrate the forward end of the machine, particularly the hoisting drum for operating a boom, same taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the log push bar mechanism, parts broken away for convenience of illustration, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the mechanism for operating the friction clutch employed in the operation of the log push bar, the same taken'on line I-I of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the driving mechanism for the hoisting drums, taken on line 8 8 of Figure 3.

In the drawings.

My new and improved yarding and cut off machineV consists of a frame I mounted upon' the wheels 2 through the axle 3 secured to the frame by holding brackets 4. superimposed upon -this frame is a sub-frame 5, which is mounted on one side of the main frame, best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.. superimposed on this sub-frame lon the forward end thereof is a third frame 6. This frame is in turn mounted upon the wheels 'I, which in turn are journalled to the-pedestal-. The pedestal 8 is rotatable about its vertical shaft 9, Fig. 5, which is journalled within a bearing sleeve I secured to the cross plates-I I, said plates forming part of the frame 6. A tongue I2 (Fig. 2) is pivotally mounted to the pedestal 8 at I3. This tongue may be hitched to a tractor for the moving about ofthe machine. I Iind thatby mounting 3 Claims. (Cl. 143-46) the machine on a three-wheeled chassis greater maneuverability is possible, but I do not wish t0 be limited to `the exact chassis as illustrated.

My invention further consists of mounting the hoisting unit, indicated in general by I4, on one end of the frame of the machine and to one side. This hoisting uni-t consists of a suitable framework I5, having the drums I6, I'I and I8 mounted thereon by bearings I9.Y These drums are of well known type, consisting of the drums proper each having a clutch 20 cooperating lwith a corresponding one of their ends and operated by the cranks 2 I. A brake drum assembly is indicated at 22 and operated by the usual brake levers 23. The clutches 29 are driven by the drive chain 24 (Fig. 3) through the sprockets 25. The chain 24 is driven by the sprocket 26, Fig. 1, which is keyed to the shaft 2l of the gear box 28. The drive for the gear box will be described later on.

The drum 30 is considered as the hoisting drum while the drum 3| is used for the haul back line in the logging operation. I have provided a drum 32 for pulling the logs through the yarder to the cut off saw, the operation of which will be described later. Mounted upon the sub-frame 5 is a power plant 33 having a transmission 34. The drive shaft 35 from the transmission 34 enters a gear box 36, which drives the shaft 3'I running longitudinally of the frame of the machine. This shaft is mounted within suitable bearings 38. The drive shaft 35 extends through the gear box 36 and into the gear box 28 driving the shaft 21 and the chain 24 as above referred to.

Pivotally mounted tothe main -frame of the machine is a boom 39 through which the cables from the hoisting drums can be run at 40 in the performance of the yarding operation of the machine. The upper end of the boom is supported by the cables 4I from a hoist 42. Mounted upon the forward end of the machine is an A-frame 43, whose upper end has a sheave 44 over which the cable 4I is trained from the hoist 42 to the boom 39. The hoist 42 is of the usual construction, having the clutch assembly 45 operated by the lever 46 and also a brake drum 41 controlled by the lever 48. This construction, as stated above,

is of well known practice. The hoist 42 is driven by the chain 49 from the power shaft 31. The hoisting unit I4 and the boom 39, together with the hoist 42 makes up the yarding or log hauling feature of my new and improved yarding and cut oi machine.

I will now describe the operation and construction of the cut oif feature of the machine. A saw 5U is mounted to the arbor 5I, which is journalled within suitable bearings 52 to the saw frame 53, said frame is pivotally mounted to the drive shaft 3l by bearings 54. This frame and the weight of the saw is counter-balanced byA the extension 55, which may have a counterbalancing material such as concrete 56 therein.

The saw is driven by the chain 5l from the drive shaft 31. This completes the cut off feature of my machine.

I have also provided a log pusher bar 58, which is slidably mounted cross wise the sub-frame 5 through the guide tube 59. This pusher bar is moved transversely of the machine by the action of the drive sprocket S9 cooperating withthe Yrack BI, which may consist of a chain welded yto 'the I-beam, which is known as the pusher vbar '58.

The sprocket 60 is keyed to the shaft 62, which in turn is driven by the chain'63 through 4the sprocket 64 by the counter shaft 65 journal-led :ithin suitable bearings 66 (Figs. 2 and 6) to thecrossframes v5l. The counter shaft 65 has africt'ion wheel 69 keyed thereto and is driven in one direction fromrshaft 31 by either the belt E9 trained on wheel 68 and a friction wheel 'Ill fixed on shaft 3l, or in a `reverse direction, directiy against the friction wheel `'I0.

The-end TI of the counter shaft 65 is mounted within a bear-ing 112, which is 4slidably 4mounted upon -the cross/frame 6l. The bearing I2 may be shifted either Way Aby the link 'I3 (Figs. 1 and '7), which is pivotally connected thereto at I4 on its one end and to the crank 'I5 at its opposite end, said jcrank being keyed to the short longitudinal or cross shaft z16 journalled to the cross frames 6l' and operated bythe lever TI. When the `lever is moved away from the operator standing -at thelocation 18, Fig. l, the bear ing r`,1.2 will push the friction wheel 68 to wards the friction wheel Ill loosening the belt 59 and driving the friction wheel 68 and the countershaft 165 in the same direction, together with its sprocket 69 which Aforces the push bar 58 .in1the directionof Athe arrow, the object of which will be described later. When the lever 'I-I is-.pulled towards the operator it will ltighten the-belt 69-causing-the said belt todrive the friction -w-heelii` -in the kopposite direction, causing the push -ban-58 to travel in the-opposite direction-'of .the arrow, referring to .Figure 6, back to its-starting position.

-I will now describe the operation of my yarding andk cut Ioi machine, Yas the machine is brought to location Ya skid-way `8| shown vin broken lines, `Figure 2, is abutted against theend of the frame of the machine lat 19. The cable 99 ltrained about the drum -32 isthen attached to the rear endH of the log to be brought-upon the skid-way'l, this log is brought-endwise into the machine, as indicated by `the broken line 82 in iFig-ure 4, namely in lbetween the sides of framework AI5 of the hoisting'unit I4 andA under the'drums W35i, Bland `32 in the pathway for the flogsto -be handledfin the machine upon the platform 83, kwhich consists of a Vplate'ii Welded flush with the top .of -the'frame I. The logis progressed over-the topof thissplatform towards therbumper 85, Figs. 2 and`3,which is'mounted toa longitudinal horizontal'b'eam 85, this beam isslidabl'y mountedthrough the cross frames 8l of themain frame 'I at :8B and under the Vplatfor-m 93. See Fig. f5. 'The position `of ythe bumper 85 determines the length of the cut off portion 0f thelog and'this'bumper is adjustable by having a locking pin`39 passing through the frame `I and through the holes 599 Vof the beam 86.

`Whenthelog strikes the bumper 85 it will be stopped andthe cable 289 can be released 'from this log and attached to-the outboard end of the neztlo'g'following 'on"'the Vskid-way', which lwill be'ibrought up against the proceedinglog above described, forcing the same over the platform while it is being cut to lengths and so on thereafter with the following logs. When the log strikes the bumper the handle!!! of .the saw assembly is grasped by the operator and the saw islowered through the log. After it has completed the cut the operator grasps the lever I'I forcing the same away from him, causing the above described power transmission mechanism to Lmove thepush bar 58 in the direction of the arrow .indicated in yFigure 6, which pushes the cut off portion ofthe' log off of the platform 83 and the: horizontal support 86 on to a skid-way 92, shown in broken lines (Fig. l)

This skid-way may consist of ordinary :skids or elevating chains into thesaw mill, ,such as .-I have covered in a cao-pending application. After the push bar has removed the logs on to thefskids it will be returned as above described by pulling the lever 'Il towards the oprator vreversing Vthe direction of the drive.

When the machine is used for yarding 'in the logs from over the logging area the operator stands on the platform 93 .(Figs. l and 4) from where he controls the yarding operation through the hoisting mechanism I4 by the control levers 2| and 23, and as stated above the hoisting and hold back cables 94 are operated from the drums 3) and :3|,vthese cables may extend directly out of themachine as indicated in the drawing, or they may be trained rup over the pulleys lilas indica-ted in broken lines, Fig..-2, Ydepending upon the type of work to be performed.

When the operator is standing on the platform at 'I8 he can control the drum 32 which is rbringing the logs in over'the fskid-.wayfl from lthe point Athat they were `brought to by theyarding operations by the control lrod '95 which controls the clutch mechanism in the drum.32 bythe lever 95. Normally the motor `33 operates the hoisting drumlchain 24 continuously, also the drive:shaft 3T, although the speeds can fbe varied through the transmissiond controlled by the clutchcontrol lever l9'I and gear 'control lever 98 located adjacent the operators platform 18.

As the primary object .of my irivention is to mount the lhoisting .andthe cut off units, 'together with their power supply,nupona portable f frame, which intturn is mounted upon .wheels V2 and "I, it becomes necessary to fold some ofthe equipment while moving theimachine about.

Thezplatform 93 is mounted Iupon and forms part of the beams `99, whoseinnerzends' IMJ- pass throughthefframe I `andinto the'pockets ISM which .provides a supportlfor Vthe platfor-rn93.

See Eigi. The roof |92 is hingedlyV secured-tothe stationary roof or canopy I03 a`t 194, being'supported by the upright post I05..upon the platform 93.

Whena moveis-tobe madethe post i505 isremoved 'and the roof 192 hinged downwardly alongside the hoistingy unit I4, -thenthe platform 93 andthe beams 99 are'removedfromthepockets IUI and placed on the 'platform 1 8. The 'hinged platform -IIII is hingedly securedto the platform 84 at |06 andis folded upwhile'moving the machine.

I do not Wish to be limited tov the exact 'me- `chanical `structure as illustrated, k-as other'structural equivalents may be substituted-still Vcoming within theA scope of `my claimsl vI claim:

1. In a portable yarding "and cut-off machine,

:aportable iramefa stationary platformthereon,

a-longitudinal pathway on onesideofA the platform for the logs to be handled in the machine, manually controlled means above the pathway at one end of the frame and platform for drawing a log into and lengthwise of the pathway upon the platform below said means, a stop adjustably mounted longitudinally in the frame beneath the platform and projecting above the same at the opposite end of the frame to limit the advanced position of the log, a saw mounted on the frame and platform at one side of the pathway and movable into the pathway for cutting the log transversely in the limited position resulting from the contact of the log with the stop, a pusher bar reciprocably supported above the platform to extend transversely thereof and having a longitudinal rack, a shaft journaled on the platform and having a xed sprocket meshing with the rack, a counter shaft journaled on the platform and having a driving connection to the rst shaft at one end, a slidable bearing for the opposite end of the counter shaft, a friction wheel fixed to the countershaft, a driven shaft journaled on the platform, a small friction wheel xed on the latter shaft in line with the first friction wheel, a belt loosely trained around said wheels, and means connected to the slidable bearing to move the same and the rst friction wheel in opposite directions to engage the second wheel or disengage therefrom and tighten the belt, to project the pusher bar against the cut-01T portion of the log to discharge same from the opposite side of the platform and to retract the pusher bar at the inside of the pathway.

2. In a portable yarding and cut oi machine, a main frame having a xed platform thereon, a longitudinal pathway on the platform along one side for the logs to be handled in the machine, a manually controlled hoisting unit supported on the frame spaced above the platform pathway at one end for drawing a log onto the platform lengthwise of the pathway below said hoisting unit, a hoisting unit on the opposite end of the frame, a power unit on the frame at one side of the first hoisting unit and pathway and having a horizontal longitudinal shaft along said side driven by said unit and operatively connected to the hoisting units at opposite ends for driving the same, a stop adjustably mounted longitudinally in the frame beneath the platform and projecting above the same at the end opposite the rst hoisting unit to limit the advanced position of the log in the pathway, a saw frame pivoted on Said shaft and counterbalanced outwardly of the pivot, a circular saw journaled at the free inner end of the saw frame and driven from the shaft for cutting the log transversely in the limited position when the advanced end thereof contacts with the stop, and a log pusher bar mounted on the platform at the same side as the shaft in advance of the saw and reciprocable across and over the platform and pathway and driven from said shaft to push a cut-off portion of a log from the pathway and platform at the opposite side, said bar having a longitudinal rack, a shaft journaled longitudinally on the platform and having a fixed sprocket wheel meshing with the rack therebeneath, a counter-shaft journaled on the platform and operatively geared at one end to the second shaft, a movable bearing for the opposite end of the countershaft, a friction wheel xed to the counter shaft, a smaller friction wheel fixed on the first shaft in line with the first friction wheel, an endless belt loosely trained around said friction Wheels, and means connected to the movable bearing to move the same and the rst friction wheel in opposite directions to engage the second wheel or to disengage same and tighten the belt, to project the pusher bar against the cut-off portion of the log to discharge same from the opposite side of the platform or to retract the pusher bar at the inside of the pathway.

3. A portable yarding and cut-olf machine, a main frame having a xed platform thereon, a longitudinal pathway on the platform along one side for the logs to be handled in the machine, a manually controlled hoisting unit supported on the frame spaced above the platform pathway at one end for drawing a log onto the platform lengthwise of the pathway below said hoisting unit, a hoisting unit on the opposite end of the frame, a power unit on the frame at one side of the first hoisting unit and pathway and having a horizontal longitudinal shaft along said side driven by said unit and operatively connected to the hoisting units at opposite ends for driving the same, a stop adjustably mounted longitudinally in the frame beneath the platform and projecting above the same at the end opposite the first hoisting unit to limit the advanced position of the log in the pathway, a saw frame pivoted on said shaft and counterbalanced outwardly of the pivot, a circular saw journaled at the free inner end of the saw frame and driven from the shaft for cutting the log transversely in the limited position when the advanced end thereof contacts with the stop, and a log pusher bar mounted on the platform at the same side as the shaft in advance of the saw and reciprocable across and over the platform and pathway and driven from said shaft to push a cut-off portion of a log from the pathway and platform at the opposite side,

Said stop comprising a longitudinal horizontal beam slidably mounted longitudinally in the frame beneath the platform and pathway along the 1ongitudinal center of the latter and formed at its outer end beyond the platform at the inner side of the second hoisting unit in line with the pathway with an abutment extending above the platform for engagement by the advance end of the log to limit the advance thereof for cutting off same at a predetermined distance in advance of the saw, said beam having a plurality of spaced holes therethrough, a cross frame in the main frame through which the beam is slidable, and a locking pin through one of said frames to engage in any of said holes to hold the beam and abutment in longitudinally adjusted position to regulate the advance of the log and portion cut off.

GLEN A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 338,884 Shelbourne Mar. 30, 1886 761,697 McDonald June 7, 1904 817,628 Cummiskey Apr. 10, 1906 825,518 Cox July 10, 1906 1,001,272 Howard Aug. 22, 1911 1,105,074 Greene July 28, 1914 1,404,358 Frink Jan. 24, 1922 1,576,025 Baumhover Mar. 9, 1926 1,578,341 Miller Mar. 30, 1926 1,784,709 Rich Dec. 9, 1930 1,835,376 Cherney Dec. 8, 1931 2,039,017 McLeod Apr. 28, 1936 2.377.236 Jackson May 29, 1945 

